If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking on the
link on this line. You will have to register
before you can post but you can *read* the forums even before you register. Sometimes registration is disabled when we're fighting off a hacker attack. However in this situation you can still register by using the Contact Us link at the bottom of the page and sending us a message introducing yourself and requesting your account to be created from our end. To start viewing messages,
click on Forum above then select the forum you want to visit from the selection that will open below. To read our exclusive articles and interviews, click on Home (we have interviews with some major opera stars). The Home page also has widgets with Recent Posts, Recent Articles, Recent Activity, Polls (scroll down). In-Depth content can be found by visiting the Learn section of our clickable index. Our site is monitored by Sucuri and certified to be malware free. Scroll down to see our security certificates and our partners' logos. Welcome to Opera Lively!

In tribute to Miss Suliotis I see Hoffman has changed his forum avatar in honor of her great debut recording for Decca.......

With kudos to the Architecture Museum, Istanbul. I stood there for a bit, in awe. The glazed tiles are from the Ishtar Gate, Babylon, most of which is in Berlin. But.. I only remember Berlin having the lions, while the Architecture Museum owns the tiles from the Nabucco recording's cover (even if the cover is reversed).

This is a nice recording but, regardless of whatever cuts were made, the recording with Marilyn Horne and Cecilia Gasdia has yet to be beat:

It's these kind of statements that I am weak against and that would normally drive me straight to Presto Classical...
However, whilst I do not have an unfortunate tax situation, I do have an unfortunate diminishing finances situation due to my irresponsible and uncontrolled purchasing over the last SIX months.

There is no better audio investment you can make dollar for dollar than a good set of headphones, the Sennheiser 500 series are just killer with very good rich detailed sound and high efficiency so you play directly from headphone output of CD player or even portable device......you must own these, I use mine every day

Next model down is Senn 558 new price Amazon USA is $122

It's not just opera anymore that you folk have me splurging on. Mine is arriving tomorrow. Thanks for the recommendation.

Never try to teach a pig to sing. You will waste your time and you will annoy the pig.

Another wonderful, but seemingly lonely and unappreciated Rossini opera:

I like this opera/recording very much. I like the story, characters and the music. Of course JDF is brilliant but so is the rest of the cast. Since I bought this at the charity shop (as new), I have made a habit of visiting the store at least once a week. That is how much I think it was a good find there!

I like this opera/recording very much. I like the story, characters and the music. Of course JDF is brilliant but so is the rest of the cast. Since I bought this at the charity shop (as new), I have made a habit of visiting the store at least once a week. That is how much I think it was a good find there!

You have a charity shop with opera recordings? The best our charity shops seem to be able to summon is some pretty funky clothing and any number of questionable computers and coffee makers. Of course, that might just be my experience because all the opera recordings already have been purchased by the time I show up...

You have a charity shop with opera recordings? The best our charity shops seem to be able to summon is some pretty funky clothing and any number of questionable computers and coffee makers. Of course, that might just be my experience because all the opera recordings already have been purchased by the time I show up...

We have an Oxfam book store which has a music section with some opera. I was umming and ahhing over a like new Solti Die Frau ohne Schatten for a couple of weeks and missed it. The next time I went in, there was the Matilde di Shabran as new (still in cellophane) so I picked it up straight away. I haven't found anything since (Kat'a Kabanova like new turned up the SAME day as I took delivery from Presto!) but stock comes in about once a week.

They have a GREAT selection of LPs. One I like is the ROH Don Carlo with the all star cast that is like new inside... with the ROH programme inside, for GBP 2. If I had a turntable... I would be a nutter if I bought it without even having a turntable. So I HAVE been seriously thinking about it.

From now on I will also keep an eye on the books for a set of Groves...

Directed by Hans Neuenfels of Rat Lohengrin fame so of course quite bonkers, everyone had an acting double and sometimes the actor seemed to be at odds with the singer - something about inner contradictions. The Pedrillo actor was a scream and I really enjoyed the production. The singing was OK but not stellar.